# data[].attributes.headline
Genre Personality Test Can Be Purchased From This Website

# data[].attributes.subject
Genre Personality Test Can Be Purchased From This Website

# data[].attributes.body
Use Code CSLA2021 to receive a discount on your purchase

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LATEST POSTS RECOMMENDED FOR AUGUST FEATURED POSTS

# data[].attributes.body
This teacher has TONS of electronic resources that are FREE!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When we started teaching, we couldn't wait to share our love for reading with our students. We set up our classroom library, had 30 minutes devoted to silent reading each day and assigned reading for homework with students writing a summary of what they read. We even took our students to the school library every week so that students could find books they would enjoy. Here's what we quickly discovered... our students did not enjoy reading! Looking back now, we don't blame them!

Our students did not enjoy reading because it was boring! Yes, our students "read" every day, but it was simply, "Okay class, take out your books. Now we are going to read for 30 minutes. Ready? Begin." Insert half of our class doing real reading and half of our class fake reading for 30 minutes with the occasional nose blowing or trip to the restroom. Finally... "Okay class, time is up. Put your books away and take out your language arts book." End of reading time. And then, at the end of the day, we would say, "Be sure to read for 20 minutes at home and write a half page summary of what you read. Fill out your reading logs and we will check them tomorrow."

Ahhhhh!!!! Looking back now, we could scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our little readers were basically having reading ruined for them! We had the best intentions, but we went about it all the wrong way. Students had their reading time confined to a 30 minute block of time with no purpose, follow up, sharing, discussion, etc... It was simply: open book, read, close book. Go home. Open book, read for 20 minutes (maybe) and then write a half page summary. Go to the library, return books that they might not have even finished, and get a new book that they may or may not actually read. YUCK! TORTURE!

Readers need excitement! Students need to be able to talk about their reading and share their reading with others! Readers need a contagious reading environment that fosters a love for reading, makes reading fun and makes reading a part of who they are! Reading should not be an activity that only exists in a 30 minute block of time at school. Readers need to be able to read throughout the day and should be encouraged to squeeze in extra reading time whenever they can!

Are you ready for the cold, hard truth? Brace yourselves. YOU are where the problem stems from. We're sorry, but it's true, and we can only say this because it was our problem too. We say this with love! Here's what a lot of teachers think about reading: "I know I should have my students silent read, but it's so hard to monitor. I have to have some proof that they actually read the book they said they read. I know... I'll have them write a summary, or do a book report, or do some form of assessment (like AR) for every book they ever read. That should do it."

NOOOO!!!!! You are torturing your students and giving them anxiety about reading! Students view this type of reading as a long period of time that they have to sit still for, a way they could get into trouble if they don't write a summary or book report, and a time of the day that brings anxiety! What teachers "need" is the part of reading that students dread the most!

Readers bloom in an environment where the teacher is excited about reading themselves! Show your students that you love reading too by reading yourself! Talk about your reading with your students and always be ready to give recommendations to students! Show your readers that reading continues even outside of the classroom!

Readers should always choose books that interest them! Students should look for recommendations from you and other students in the classroom. They need time to discuss their reading with each other and create a Books to Read List! The buzz in the classroom should be about what they are reading or what they are going to read next.

This is the piece that should perk your little ears right up. Accountability. This is the part that teachers are looking for in their classrooms. Accountability is the proof that students actually read the book they said they did. This accountability piece should be the most fun part! There are so many ways for students to prove they read! One way is just through a discussion! Students can discuss their reading with you, peers, or family! If you take the time to listen, you can quickly see if a child has actually read a book or not. The accountability piece should be short, fun and meaningful in order to foster a love for reading in your students.

What do students enjoy more than anything else? If you answered social media, you are correct. We strongly believe in capitalizing on students' interests and bringing them into the classroom to "trick" them into loving whatever it is we are teaching. To us, reading is our number one priority, so we saved our students' top interest just for reading!

Students love Instagram. They love posting pictures and selfies, using hashtags, creating fun usernames, following their friends, commenting on posts and scrolling through other accounts. If we told you that students could do all of this with their reading, would you believe us? Our Instagram Reading Challenge is the answer!

When you hear the term Reading Challenge, it can turn a lot of teachers off. Here is our Challenge to our students: "How many books can you read this year?" That's it! It's that simple! There are no rewards, there are no prizes, there are no fancy awards. The reward for students is that they get time to spend inside books and then the opportunity to share their reading with their peers in a fun and engaging way. As educators, we all really know that the real prize is reading... and being turned into a lifelong reader!

Students start the fun process of their Instagram Reading Challenge by setting up their accounts. Students use file folders and glue in the template that they will use throughout the year. There are sections for directions, followers, posts, books to read lists, and even a graffiti wall for awesome quotes! These file folders are a working document that students will use all year long to collect their reading memories in your classroom.

Students get to post to their Instagram Accounts when they finish a title. You can simply have students write the title, or they can gain some computer skills by copy/pasting their book's cover into a Word Document. We used four computers for this. When students completed a book, they popped onto one of these computers and added their cover to the document. We printed out the covers once a month and students gathered their covers and glued them into their account. We loved this process because it created excitement and even another time when students got to share their completed books with each other.

Students also assign "Likes" to the title based on how much they enjoyed the book. We like to have them use a range of 1-100 for their "Likes." This large range allows students some room to gauge their enjoyment of a book.

Check out how our students copy/ pasted their covers! Super quick and fun!

In our classrooms, we choose to have students collect the titles they read over a month's period of time. We have found that students usually will read four books in this amount of time. At the end of the month, we have students "share" the book that received the most likes that month. There are a variety of activities that we have students complete. They can post a picture of the main character, setting or most exciting part, create a commercial, describe emojis for the book, list hashtags for the book, make a sponsored ad, or invent a series of comments between characters! All of these activities are high interest activities that will have students excited to complete. These engaging activities also serve as a way for you to see that students are actually reading in your class!

This is our favorite part! Throughout the year, students will have multiple opportunities to share their reading with other students! Whenever we have a spare moment, we have our students grab their Instagram Reading Challenge file folder and walk around the room to gain followers! Students pair up and show their account to another student. Students look at each others' accounts and ask questions about each book. If a book sounds like something they would want to read, they add it to their Books To Read List. If a student does this, the other student gains a follower! They write their user name on their Followers list. Their challenge is to recommend a book to every student in the class and gain every student as a "follower!"

We love the idea of creating a huge Instagram Reading Challenge bulletin board to add to the excitement! We post our Class Read Aloud books to our account and have students vote on the amount of likes for each book. This is a great conversation piece when parents come into the room and a great way to look back at our loved books throughout the year!

To celebrate our reading and to have some social media/ reading fun, we throw a Selfie Party for all of our readers. You can have this be an incentive to reach a certain number of books, or just a fun time to capture your students' love for reading. We love using props, books, and smiles to show off the fact that we are a reading classroom full of lifelong readers!

Get this fun Instagram Posting Activity for FREE! It is the perfect activity to go along with this engaging theme!

If you love reading, you will also love:

Whether or not you think this Reading Challenge would be a good fit for your classroom, our hope is that you have gained some tools and tips to use in your classroom that will create a positive reading environment for your students. Students need a reading role model, a plethora of high interest books, time to read, and meaningful ways to share their reading.

We would love to hear about how you foster a love for reading in your classroom!

Comment below!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Reading Challenge that will Create Lifelong Readers! - The Rigorous Owl

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When we started teaching, we couldn't wait to share our love for reading with our students. We set up our classroom library, had 30 minutes devoted to silent reading each day and assigned reading for homework with students writing a summary of what they read.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ready to host a reading challenge with your class? Whether you want your students to read 4 or 40 books this year, here are some ideas that will help you be successful.

The Problem with a Reading Challenge

It's no secret that middle school students aren't spending as much time reading as they are on their phones or playing video games. Add to that the other activities that students are involved in...and reading for pleasure certainly takes a back seat.

But there are more great books than ever for this age group! (I've given up reading adult fiction because I think that YA books are better written!!)

With the busy lives our students lead, they need incentives to read. And one way to do that is to host a reading challenge with your class.

You want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

Before Starting a Reading Challenge

Think about what you, as an educator, want your students to gain from a reading challenge.

You want students to read, yes. But more than that, you want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

We don't want students to think of it as a punishment - one more requirement they have to complete. A reading challenge shouldn't make students feel dread. The last thing you want students to do is to lie about what they've read (or haven't read).

Keep the ultimate goal of your reading challenge at the top of your mind - and the minds of your students.

At the end of the year, you want students to tell you, "I used to not like to read, but I love reading now!"

So how do you get there? Read on!

How to Implement a Successful Reading Challenge

1. Join the challenge yourself.
Read right along with your students! This tip is number 1 for a reason.

Show that you value independent reading by modeling it. Take that one better by reading the books your students are reading and ask them for recommendations on what to read next. When you are excited about reading and can talk to your students about books they are reading, you add value to the challenge.
2. Determine what is right for your students.
You may want to use the 40 book challenge, which means students read about one book a week during a school year.

However, be sure to determine what is appropriate for your students.

Meet with them and allow them to set their own goals. Of course, a reading challenge isn't a challenge unless students are working toward something ... challenging!

But keep in mind your goal for this challenge. If a student read zero books last year, reading ten this year would be a challenge!

3. Rejoice in the accomplishments.
Keep a class tally of the number of books your class has read ( you can find one here). This is a powerful tool!

Update it weekly and post it on your classroom door - or better yet, in the hall for the world to see.
4. What about long books?
Should they count as two books? One of my team teachers allowed students to count books that were over 300 pages as two books.

The advantage of this is that it takes pressure off students who want to reader longer, more challenging texts.
5. Book reports...
Should you require students to write a report for each book?

Look back at your ultimate goal for the reading challenge. If it's to create a community of passionate readers, a book report might not be quite what you're looking for. Not to mention, you'll be grading them.

And let's be real here. Would you join a book club that required you to write a book report? Me neither.

Alternatives? You could just have students record the title of the book and give it a star review. Or you might want to have students give a monthly book talk.

6. Create a reading frenzy!
You will know you are on the right track when a book makes its way around your classroom like wildfire! And book talks are a great way to do this. It is so exciting when students start passing books to each other!

We know our students are much more likely to take the recommendations of their peers over ours. With book talks, students are taking turns recommending titles to each other. Golden!

Plus, book talks provide opportunities to reach the listening and speaking standards - not just once, but several times a year.

Schedule books talks monthly or once a grading period.

7. Requirements?
What should you require?

If you look online, you'll see school requirements for a 40 book reading challenge that specify a certain number of books for particular genres or topics.

I am not at all behind that idea for the simple reason that it doesn't align with my goal for a reading challenge: instilling the love of reading in my students.

Requiring students to read 5 biographies feel more like jumping through hoops than developing a love of reading.

You might be wondering how can you get students to read biographies or... anything besides fantasy? Here's how:

8. Meet with your students
When you meet with your students regularly, you'll be able to adjust and fine-tune their challenge.

If a students is reading just fantasy, the challenge might be to read a biography. Talking over your students' book choices can lead to interesting conversations and real connections with your students! This is where the two of you can create and set challenges.
9. Build community
Provide simple ways for students to share what they're reading. You can do with a quick weekly "turn and talk" as students tell another student what they are reading and what the book is about.
10. Keep a running list
Create a graffiti wall for students' suggestions. Just hang a big piece of paper on the wall with the title, "What are you reading?" and allow students to write out titles. They can give a star review next to the title as well.

This simple graffiti wall is helpful when students ask, "What should I read next?"

11. Easy record keeping
Make recording what books students are reading painless for both the students and you. Use a "status of the class" or book log.

You can also have students keep a reading log that has the title, author, date finished, and star review.
12. Reduce needless competition
Assure students that they are "running their own race." That means they are just competing with themselves. They've set their own goals and are working toward meeting them.
13. Return to your student's goals
Support your students by revisiting their goals and expectations often.

Check in with them regularly to assess how they are doing. Are they meeting their goals? Do they need to reset them? Are they challenging themselves or is the goal they set unattainable?
14. Off limit books?
Are there books your students aren't allowed to read or that shouldn't "count" toward their goal?

In my opinion, no! Let's not go there!

I tell my students that there are "candy" books. Books that are fun to eat, super easy to enjoy, but probably not really great for me. Books like Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are wonderful books, but maybe not for a middle school student. Or maybe not all the time.

It's okay to read The Twits. But for a student who only wants to read "candy" books...there is an opportunity for discussion and growth!

Of course, we want our students to read "nutritious" books, but even adults will read a book that isn't high literature every once in awhile (right?? right?).

And again, go back to your goals! Use reading choices as a topic for the conferences you have with your students.
15. Celebrate all the successes
Make sure to celebrate what your students achieve!

Here's to a great reading challenge!

Ready to host a reading challenge with your class? Whether you want your students to read 4 or 40 books this year, here are some ideas that will help you be successful.

The Problem with a Reading Challenge

It's no secret that middle school students aren't spending as much time reading as they are on their phones or playing video games. Add to that the other activities that students are involved in...and reading for pleasure certainly takes a back seat.

But there are more great books than ever for this age group! (I've given up reading adult fiction because I think that YA books are better written!!)

With the busy lives our students lead, they need incentives to read. And one way to do that is to host a reading challenge with your class.

You want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

Before Starting a Reading Challenge

Think about what you, as an educator, want your students to gain from a reading challenge.

You want students to read, yes. But more than that, you want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

We don't want students to think of it as a punishment - one more requirement they have to complete. A reading challenge shouldn't make students feel dread. The last thing you want students to do is to lie about what they've read (or haven't read).

Keep the ultimate goal of your reading challenge at the top of your mind - and the minds of your students.

At the end of the year, you want students to tell you, "I used to not like to read, but I love reading now!"

So how do you get there? Read on!

How to Implement a Successful Reading Challenge

1. Join the challenge yourself.
Read right along with your students! This tip is number 1 for a reason.

Show that you value independent reading by modeling it. Take that one better by reading the books your students are reading and ask them for recommendations on what to read next. When you are excited about reading and can talk to your students about books they are reading, you add value to the challenge.
2. Determine what is right for your students.
You may want to use the 40 book challenge, which means students read about one book a week during a school year.

However, be sure to determine what is appropriate for your students.

Meet with them and allow them to set their own goals. Of course, a reading challenge isn't a challenge unless students are working toward something ... challenging!

But keep in mind your goal for this challenge. If a student read zero books last year, reading ten this year would be a challenge!

3. Rejoice in the accomplishments.
Keep a class tally of the number of books your class has read ( you can find one here). This is a powerful tool!

Update it weekly and post it on your classroom door - or better yet, in the hall for the world to see.
4. What about long books?
Should they count as two books? One of my team teachers allowed students to count books that were over 300 pages as two books.

The advantage of this is that it takes pressure off students who want to reader longer, more challenging texts.
5. Book reports...
Should you require students to write a report for each book?

Look back at your ultimate goal for the reading challenge. If it's to create a community of passionate readers, a book report might not be quite what you're looking for. Not to mention, you'll be grading them.

And let's be real here. Would you join a book club that required you to write a book report? Me neither.

Alternatives? You could just have students record the title of the book and give it a star review. Or you might want to have students give a monthly book talk.

6. Create a reading frenzy!
You will know you are on the right track when a book makes its way around your classroom like wildfire! And book talks are a great way to do this. It is so exciting when students start passing books to each other!

We know our students are much more likely to take the recommendations of their peers over ours. With book talks, students are taking turns recommending titles to each other. Golden!

Plus, book talks provide opportunities to reach the listening and speaking standards - not just once, but several times a year.

Schedule books talks monthly or once a grading period.

7. Requirements?
What should you require?

If you look online, you'll see school requirements for a 40 book reading challenge that specify a certain number of books for particular genres or topics.

I am not at all behind that idea for the simple reason that it doesn't align with my goal for a reading challenge: instilling the love of reading in my students.

Requiring students to read 5 biographies feel more like jumping through hoops than developing a love of reading.

You might be wondering how can you get students to read biographies or... anything besides fantasy? Here's how:

8. Meet with your students
When you meet with your students regularly, you'll be able to adjust and fine-tune their challenge.

If a students is reading just fantasy, the challenge might be to read a biography. Talking over your students' book choices can lead to interesting conversations and real connections with your students! This is where the two of you can create and set challenges.
9. Build community
Provide simple ways for students to share what they're reading. You can do with a quick weekly "turn and talk" as students tell another student what they are reading and what the book is about.
10. Keep a running list
Create a graffiti wall for students' suggestions. Just hang a big piece of paper on the wall with the title, "What are you reading?" and allow students to write out titles. They can give a star review next to the title as well.

This simple graffiti wall is helpful when students ask, "What should I read next?"

11. Easy record keeping
Make recording what books students are reading painless for both the students and you. Use a "status of the class" or book log.

You can also have students keep a reading log that has the title, author, date finished, and star review.
12. Reduce needless competition
Assure students that they are "running their own race." That means they are just competing with themselves. They've set their own goals and are working toward meeting them.
13. Return to your student's goals
Support your students by revisiting their goals and expectations often.

Check in with them regularly to assess how they are doing. Are they meeting their goals? Do they need to reset them? Are they challenging themselves or is the goal they set unattainable?
14. Off limit books?
Are there books your students aren't allowed to read or that shouldn't "count" toward their goal?

In my opinion, no! Let's not go there!

I tell my students that there are "candy" books. Books that are fun to eat, super easy to enjoy, but probably not really great for me. Books like Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are wonderful books, but maybe not for a middle school student. Or maybe not all the time.

It's okay to read The Twits. But for a student who only wants to read "candy" books...there is an opportunity for discussion and growth!

Of course, we want our students to read "nutritious" books, but even adults will read a book that isn't high literature every once in awhile (right?? right?).

And again, go back to your goals! Use reading choices as a topic for the conferences you have with your students.
15. Celebrate all the successes
Make sure to celebrate what your students achieve!

Here's to a great reading challenge!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 Tips for a Reading Challenge - Just Add Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ready to host a reading challenge with your class? Whether you want your students to read 4 or 40 books this year, here are some ideas that will help you be successful. It's no secret that middle school students aren't spending as much time reading as they are on their phones or playing video games.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Most of my 2nd to 5th grade students tend to read within the same literary genre. Fantasy is by far the most popular, from the Magic Tree House to the Deltora Quest and Percy Jackson series. To motivate my students to explore other genres as well, I've decided to begin Badging the Library. It's baby steps at first, but I am hoping to expand eventually.

You all have seen digital badges-maybe in the form of a community badge displayed in the sidebar of your favorite blog? Or possibly you've downloaded AASL's Rising to the Challenge conference attendance badge? Then there are achievement badges, which are popular in the video game industry. I've created skills badges. The purpose of skills badges is to allow students to demonstrate that they have met a learning objective. A great example is Khan Academy, where badges are awarded to display mastery in seven unique skills. My genre reading badges are not at all as elaborate as Khan's, but I do hope they are just as motivating.

For now, I've created seven different genre badges for students in grades 2 through 5 (28 badges total). Creating the badges was much easier than anticipated. I looked at various badge designer options and eventually settled on openbadges.me by MyKnowledgeMap (they do have a WordPress plugin as well). To create a badge, you simply select from various choices for each the shape, inner shape, icon, banner, and text. Super easy!

To earn a genre reading badge, students have to complete a learning path (see below). The creative product can be anything from a recorded book talk to a trailer to trading cards to a comic strip to mindmaps to animations... Badges will be collected in "My Badge Backpack", a page on each of my student's blogfolios.

My goal for the badge implementation is to serve as a reading incentive program. Moreover, I want to entice students to explore new genres. In this sense, the learning is entirely student-driven, thereby empowering them to play a stronger role in their own learning. Students are not required to participate, although I do hope that many will.

So while I am starting small, I see great potential for expansion. For example, one of my curricular areas is digital citizenship. Rather than making badge earning voluntary, it could be a form of assessment-letting students demonstrate what they know-and documenting it for instructional purposes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Motivating Literacy: Digital Badges in the School Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Most of my 2nd to 5th grade students tend to read within the same literary genre. Fantasy is by far the most popular, from the Magic Tree House to the Deltora Quest and Percy Jackson series. To motivate my students to explore other genres as well, I've decided to begin Badging the Library.

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.text
Our #ClassroomBookaDay board is officially half full! 90 picture books-wow! Here’s the latest set of books we’ve read:
73. How to Read a Book
74. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
75. I Talk Like a River
76. A Place Inside of Me
77. You Don’t Want a Unicorn

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
Our #ClassroomBookaDay board is officially half full! 90 picture books-wow! Here’s the latest set of books we’ve read:
73. How to Read a Book
74. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
75. I Talk Like a River
76. A Place Inside of Me
77. You Don’t Want a Unicorn https://t.co/7a0vF0OTLH

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
Our #ClassroomBookaDay board is officially half full! 90 picture books-wow! Here’s the latest set of books we’ve read:
73. How to Read a Book
74. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
75. I Talk Like a River
76. A Place Inside of Me
77. You Don’t Want a Unicorn pic.twitter.com/7a0vF0OTLH
— Christina Hanson (@hansonhallway) February 14, 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.text
Our #ClassroomBookaDay board is officially half full! 90 picture books-wow! Here’s the latest set of books we’ve read:
73. How to Read a Book
74. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
75. I Talk Like a River
76. A Place Inside of Me
77. You Don’t Want a Unicorn https://t.co/7a0vF0OTLH

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Our #ClassroomBookaDay board is officially half full! 90 picture books-wow! Here’s the latest set of books we’ve read:
73. How to Read a Book
74. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
75. I Talk Like a River
76. A Place Inside of Me
77. You Don’t Want a Unicorn https://t.co/7a0vF0OTLH

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Our #ClassroomBookaDay board is officially half full! 90 picture books-wow! Here’s the latest set of books we’ve read:
73. How to Read a Book
74. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
75. I Talk Like a River
76. A Place Inside of Me
77. You Don’t Want a Unicorn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Let's talk digital badges with the experts: Cate Tolnai and Jen Gibson!

Digital badges can help us engage students (even remote learners).

Learn what digital badges are, when to use them, and how to implement them in your classroom.

Yes, you can do this in your remote, online, or blended learning environment!

These two creative ladies will help us learn how we can use digital badges in the classroom to engage and motivate our students.
Listen to this article.

Shoutout

Thank you, Lisa Scumpieru, for all of your support of Shake Up Learning and the new Blended Learning with Google book!

Blended Learning with Google Book Study information can be found here.
Learn more here: BlendedLearningwithGoogle.com
Quick Tip

Did you know many of your favorite Google apps have built-in TEMPLATES for things like lesson plans, reports, contact forms, and more? ALL FOR FREE!
Watch this quick video to learn how!
You may happen to notice that the URL for this post looks a little different. The post that originally appeared on this page in 2014 was completely out of date. I needed to find new and fresh information about badges, so I called in some help from my friends, Cate Tolnai and Jen Gibson!
Related: Power Up Your Classroom with Game Play
What Are Digital Badges?

Digital badges (aka micro-credentials) are images that represent an accomplishment or skill achieved by the student or stakeholder. They can be displayed online, and many also have connected data that shows how the badge was earned.

Think digital versions of those patches we used to earn in scouts!

They can range from a simple, digital sticker to something much more complex like passing an assessment or competency.

Cate has a ton of professional learning badges in her email signature! (Show off!)

Badging has grown a lot in popularity for professional learning, higher education, and career and technical education classes (CTE) at the high school level.

But there are so many ways that K12 classrooms can take advantage of digital badges!

Using Digital Badges in the K12 Classroom

Digital badging is at its heart, a student-centered strategy. It's empowering for students of all ages.

By connecting the play environment to the classroom, "the learning bridge," can help students see that failing is part of the learning system. You can have multiple attempts and multiple lives, like in a game.

If we are using technology more, how can we use these to demonstrate mastery of skills and knowledge in our classrooms?

Classroom Badges - Backwards Planning for Authentic Assessment

Start with your content standards! Then deconstruct it into bite-sized pieces-what Cate call's micro-tasks.
STEP 1: Determine your unit of study. STEP 2: Plan the lessons of learning (sub-standards). STEP 3: Identify the measurable objectives (micro-tasks). STEP 4: Assign the task aligned with a master badge or micro badge. STEP 5: Students submit evidence.
The infographic below will walk you through the steps!

Badges are Great for Choice and Differentiation
CLICK HERE to Download Cate's PDF
When we give students more voice and choice in their learning, that flexible learning path to the learning goal, we can easily align the badge with the competency or mastery.

Tools for Creating Badges

Many of the tools you are already using may already have badges or creation tools available.
Tools to design your own badges:
How can you use digital badges to increase engagement with your students?
Badging Systems
About Cate Tolnai & Jen Gibson

Twitter: @BuoyConsultants

Website: BuoyConsultants.com

Podcast: BuoyCast

Cate Tolnai: In her 18th year in education, Cate Tolnai's professional experience spans online and blended professional learning design and implementation, strategic social marketing and communications, K-12 education, and both district and county level administration. As co-founder of BUOY, her deep interest in professional learning and development coupled with her communication skills positions her to successfully partner with a wide variety of teams. Author of Power Up Your Classroom with Game Play.

Cate's website: CateTolnai.com

Jen Gibson: With more than 25 years of experience in education, public policy, edtech, and K12 business development, Jen specializes in strategic thinking and unique approaches to work on behalf of BUOY's clients. Jen is a partner with a passion for learning, combined with innovative strategies that provide growth opportunities, powerfully designed programs, future visioning, diagnostics and analytics that drive success.

© Shake Up Learning 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Digital Badges in the Classroom (WHAT, WHEN, & HOW)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Let's talk digital badges with the experts: Cate Tolnai and Jen Gibson! Digital badges can help us engage students (even remote learners). Learn what digital badges are, when to use them, and how to implement them in your classroom. Yes, you can do this in your remote, online, or blended learning environment!

# data[].attributes.body
Online Book Access for students of all ages.  It does require a subscription.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
TumbleBookLibrary

TumbleBookLibrary is a curated database of children's e-books, available by subscription to Elementary Schools and Public Libraries around the world.

TumbleBookLibrary Premium has over 1100 titles for grades K-6, and includes our unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, non fiction books and videos, curated playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French. Plus, the collection features Graphic Novels - a student favorite!

Subscriptions are affordable and EASY to use, and include tools to simplify your kids' access from home as well as from your building. There are no check-out times or wait lists: the books are always available, to everyone in your institution!

It's a great resource for tech-savvy kids, and teaches them the joy of reading in a format they'll love.

TeenBookCloud

TeenBookCloud is a curated database of e-books and other digital content for Middle Schools and High Schools, as well as Public Libraries.

The growing collection features over 1000 titles, including student-favorite Graphic Novels, enhanced e-books with full audio narration and highlighted text, classic literature, non fiction videos, and more!

The site supports a wide range of readers' interests and levels. We've partnered with Orca Books and Saddleback books to bring you hundreds of High-Interest/Low-Level content. In addition, our new AP English section makes hundreds of curriculum books available to readers at the click of a button!

Subscriptions are affordable and EASY to use, and include tools to simplify your students' access from home as well as from your building. There are no check-out times or wait lists: the books are always available, to everyone in your institution!

TumbleMath

Educators have long known that one of the most effective ways to teach math concepts, especially to reluctant learners, is by using stories and literature.

TumbleMath has the most comprehensive collection of math stories available anywhere- all in our world famous TumbleBook format which combines animation, narration, and sound to create a compelling and enticing story book for students of all ages.

The books are all accompanied by supplementary materials such as lesson plans, educational games, plus quizzes in order to test and track progress.

TumbleMath is your one stop destination for engaging and entertaining math stories.

AudioBookCloud

AudioBookCloud is a curated database of streaming audio books and is available by subscription to Public Libraries around the world.

The growing collection features over 1200 titles, including dozens of genres and interest levels. The collection includes popular literature, classics, children's and teen books, mystery, sci-fi, history, biography, and more!

The audio books are always available to subscribing libraries and their patrons. There are no special programs to install, or files to download. The site's also completely mobile compatible, and the audio books can be streamed directly to whichever device you wish to use.

Subscriptions are affordable and EASY to use, and include tools to simplify your patrons' access from home as well as from your building. There are no check-out times or wait lists: the books are always available, to everyone in your library!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tumblebooks - Read, Watch, and Learn with the this collection of eBooks, read-along, music, memory and language games, graphic novels, and more.